[#53] I’ve Written this Newsletter for One Straight Year, Here’s What I’ve Learned

Well, I did it. I‘ve written this newsletter for one straight year and never missed a week despite hospitalization, my father dying, and my Spurs blowing a 29-point lead in Game 4 against the Knicks, the biggest choke job I’ve seen in all my years of watching the NBA.

When I look at my writing from a year ago, I can see the ache of The Inner Creative trying to claw its way out from under the dirt. Joon, as I like to call him, was buried alive from writing for conversions, algorithms, and hooks the past decade. Geez, that’s not writing. That’s a calculator that uses words.

“Joon” is the first half of my Korean name (which I never use) and through a series of “expansive” experiences the past four years, has been identified as my higher self.

One of said expansive friends calls me General Joon because he sees me as an epic warrior poet. I’m no King David but I’ve written a few things and slayed a few of my own proverbial giants so I’ll take it (thanks, Dan Lievens).

Follow the White Rabbit

About two years ago, I had a picture in my mind’s eye that I was talking to a group of people at some retreat saying, “In my 40s I was very busy and up to my eyeballs in marketing work,“ as if that chapter in my life had passed.

This wasn’t some heavenly revelation. It was more a daydream that came while my massage therapist was digging into my left shoulder with her elbow, triggering access to some apparent hidden part of my psyche. Neo encountered The Matrix through a computer screen, I suppose I encounter it through 10/10 pain during a deep tissue massage.

Experience has taught me that when you get an idea, you should act within the lifetime of that idea (usually very short) or it dies. I bought a domain (still unused) as a sign of simply honoring the prompting. All these months later, here I am writing.

I have no idea how this is all going to pan out but I have decided I’m going to be a writer. Some might say, “Haven’t you already written books?” but conversions, algorithms, and marketing just don’t feel like writer to me.

If I want to make money, this may be the worst time to commit to being a writer (name two letters that you’re more sick of than “AI”). If I want to have a real, connected life with myself and other humans, this may be the best time to be a writer. Money or not, I will write because it makes me a better, happier, more useful person, and because I feel it’s part of my identity.

I’ve learned a few things writing the past year, so allow me to offer these in hopes it will stir up your inner creative, too.

1. I’ve never had a content calendar or batched issues. Everything I wrote, I wrote a few days prior to publishing or even that same day.
2. In my business, I did zero launches, one summit, and just one webinar this past year, which was on writing books. Oddly enough, since writing this newsletter my business has shot up, with many reaching out to work with me 1:1 privately. All this happened while I sunsetted a very profitable membership and mastermind group. Less but better.
3. I made writing a daily practice inspired by the Morning Pages from The Artist’s Way. As a result I believe I’m a better thinker, more grounded, and a better person. This is also how I’ve written so many of these issues.
4. Writing with a pencil (I use Blackwings) and a notebook is a direct contributor to this habit. I don’t waste words (my hand hurts otherwise) and my real style comes out.
5. I honestly do not know my subscriber count or open rate. This was good for me, so I could just focus on the craft and discipline of being consistent. I’m fortunate that my business was doing well enough that I could afford to ignore those numbers. I don’t recommend this to most people, especially if you’re running a business. I just wanted to be in the flow of inspiration rather than be dictated by numbers.
6. I picked a day and stuck to it. It feels awesome waking up every Tuesday knowing I got another rep in, and that my thinking and writing are out into the world.
7. As for “out into the world” – I admit feeling a bit disconnected from you, the reader, because I just write "into a void" and don’t know my subscriber count or get responses. Coupled with my drastic decline in webinars and launches this past year, I often feel I am out of touch. (This is not a subtle ploy to get you to respond.)
8. As I’ve pared down my business to focus on writing, I’ve discovered I just want to (1.) work with people I care about on (2.) things important to them where (3.) I can make a meaningful difference. I don’t need accolades, recognition, or followers. I like being The Secret Weapon. I’m grateful for those I’ve been sent to cross paths with, contribute to, and walk with for awhile.
9. I’ve come to find podcasting and YouTube to be a bit of a chore. I much prefer to be measured and understood by my words in this medium. One day I think I’ll start those channels again, but for now I just want to continue to write. (No, I don’t want an AI avatar of myself to read my newsletter on a podcast. If I lost my ability to talk, yea maybe. But not now.)
10. Writing has helped me process the loss of my Dad, a health scare, and the ache of my very young and cute dog being diagnosed with congestive heart failure. I often wonder how much longer she will live, and this has made me much more present in daily life. I get sad every time I have to crush all the pills I have to feed her with her meals.
11. Writing has made me feel centered, pure, and honest, especially because I am my real self here: pensive, raw, dry in humor. People think I’m very extroverted and outgoing. Nope, that’s just my public face. Yes, I’m a guy – but I believe I qualify as having “RBF.” My default expression is a face for writing.
12. Writing has helped me fight loneliness. I’m fortunate to have great friends and meaningful work, but those can only fill so many hours of the day. As I’ve made writing a daily habit, I’ve become a better friend to myself.

A Note About Getting Back Up After Setbacks

Earlier in point #5, I said I don’t know how many people read this. A few years ago I neglected some sort of DMARC update and my emails got placed in spam purgatory for roughly 75% of my total readers, tens of thousands of legit subscribers.

I was disheartened by that, had no one to blame but myself, and just stopped emailing my list for several months. I didn’t want to start over.

I was encouraged by a few friends to write again, especially by Ryan Levesque and Jeff Goins (Ryan has always been nice, at least to me. Jeff has become nicer as he’s aged).

So, here I am a year later. I don’t write to convert or sell. When I feel there’s something I can offer, I’ll offer something without apology because I think I’ll be able to help. But I like my life right now and hate how much noise there is in the world: politics, algorithms, AI — good God, will it ever end? (No.)

One nice thing about writing: there are no ads. My notebook has been a sacred space, translated into a digital format for you now.

I have no idea what I’ll write next week but I hope you are still healthy, alive, and hopeful for the future by then.

See you next Tuesday?

Mike Kim